A remote characterization system for subsurface mapping of buried waste sites

Conference · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6755434

Sandness, G A; Bennett, D W

Mapping of buried objects and regions of chemical and radiological contamination is required at US Department of Energy (DOE) buried waste sites. The DOE Office of Technology Development Robotics Integrated Program has initiated a project to develop and demonstrate a remotely controlled subsurface sensing system, called the Remote Characterization System (RCS). This project, a collaborative effort by five of the National Laboratories, involves the development of a unique low-signature survey vehicle, a base station, radio telemetry data links, satellite-based vehicle tracking, stereo vision, and sensors for non-invasive inspection of the surface and subsurface. To minimize interference with on-board sensors, the survey vehicle has been constructed predominatantly of non-metallic materials. The vehicle is self-propelled and will be guided by an operator located at a remote base station. The RCS sensors will be environmentally sealed and internally cooled to preclude contamination during use. Ground-penetrating radar, magnetometers, and conductivity devices are planned for geophysical surveys. Chemical and radiological sensors will be provided to locate hot spots and to provide isotopic concentration data.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6755434
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-21471; CONF-9210194-9; ON: DE93004327
• Resource Relation: Conference: International symposium on environmental contamination, Budapest (Hungary), 12-16 Oct 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
42 ENGINEERING
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MAPPING
RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS
VEHICLES
REMOTE CONTROL
MAGNETOMETERS
NAVIGATION
RADAR
RADIATION MONITORING
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOTE SENSING
REMOTE VIEWING EQUIPMENT
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
CONTROL
EQUIPMENT
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RANGE FINDERS
SURVEYS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
420203 - Engineering- Handling Equipment & Procedures
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)